Red, White & Blue

 I love having the day to sew and just play in my  sewing room, yesterday was one of those days.  For awhile now I have had this beautiful range of patriotic fabrics  from Sandy Gervais and Minnick and Simpson, Bought simply because I liked them and not having a plan or a clue as to what to make, So they have sat in the cupboard just waiting  for me to cut into them.

 Then during the week I had this great idea to make a quilt. When we went to the USA in 2013 we bought a flag as a souvenir, we had it hanging from the flag pole in the back garden for ages then  it got ripped in the wind so we took it down.  My husband Paul kept saying he was disappointed the flag was ruined but i never really took much notice, then I had this  idea to make him a flag quilt for his birthday in July. I have just made it up as I'm sewing and so far so good. I started making all the half square triangles first in the reds and whites, Making them into a  chevron pattern for something a bit different.  I cut up all my blues and added a few stars, 5 to be exact, to represent the 5 of us.

 I really am thrilled with how this project is turning out. Paul is home today so I have to sew something else so he doesn't see  what I'm up to.

 As I had all my patriotic fabric out, this print was just too cute to cut up so I have made it into a  basket, I whipped this up this morning while the rest of my family were sleeping. I love that time of day when the house is really quiet and I'm the only one up.

I also found this text print which is too nice to cut up so I'm going to make another basket. I'll share that with you next week.

Its such a nice sunny day  here, I have 150 new bulbs to plant so I think I'll be doing that later today. Enjoy your Sunday and I  hope you find some sewing time.

Weekend sewing

 Happy Monday to you all. I hope you had a good weekend. It was freezing cold here in Tassie this morning, I was up at 5am to go to the gym and there was a frost all over my windscreen. Winter is very close. Time to bring some quilts out to snuggle under I think.

 On Saturday I decided to make a start on the Fat quarter shop Snapshots quilt.For those of you who aren't aware of this quilt its a free pattern on the Fat quarter shop blog. Each month you download a pattern for one block.

 I love this sewing machine, it was fiddly with lots of small pieces but fun to put together.

 These 3 blocks too most of Saturday morning to make. I love them all. Next block is a puppy in a basket, that will have to wait til next weekend now.

 I made this table topper just before Christmas and it has been sitting there patiently waiting for binding so Saturday afternoon I thought it was about time to get it sewn on. For those who know me well know that binding isn't my favourite part of the quilt making process. In fact I'd go close to saying I hate it, but it is very satisfying when you finish a project.

I used all Green, red, aqua and white  fabric from the Bonnie and Camille ranges, they all play so nicely together.
I do like it alot and I'm glad I got the binding on.

What part do you enjoy most when you are making a quilt? For me its the actual piecing.

Well I need to get my washing on the line before I head off to work, so have a great day and thankyou for stopping by.

Three finishes

 I have had the best time in my sewing room recently. as you can see I have been sewing like crazy. I have been working on this dresden plate quilt for over 12 months so I thought it was about time I actually got it finished. I was sick of looking at all those dresden blades all over my sewing room. So what better way to clean them up and make them into a block.

 I have used all Bonnie & Camille fabrics and it looks so pretty. Having 4 males in my house a girl needs a few pretty things around her.

 I can't wait to get this one quilted.

 I also have been working on this disappearing 4 patch quilt for a class I am going to be teaching in May at Patchworks plus. I am so looking foreward to it. I used fig tree fabrics and of course I absolutely love them.

 I love that orange border.

 And lastly I finished this big quilt for number one son Daniel. I shared some of  it with you last week and I must say it came together so quick and easy. I love it.  The pattern is called Cosy by Bonnie of Cotton Way.

 The fabric I used is called Feed Company by  sweetwater . I love this range.

 This print is my favourite.

I'm so happy to have these 3 projects  as quilt tops, now to pass them over to Sarah for Quilting.

Tomorrow I'm off to the Cherry Shed with a bunch of my best quilting buddies for a sewing day. I can't wait.
I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend and you find some sewing time.

Easter Monday

 I am having a lovely easter break, its going way too fast though. I have lots I want to achieve today so I'm up early and making a start on my list. I wanted to share with you a beautiful gift I received from my dear friend Sunny who lives in the USA. My most favourite place to visit,  Sunny made me the sweetest sewing theme mini quilt. I just love it. Look at the cute sewing machine, the pin cushion is even padded and looks amazing.

 Sunny also made me this very pretty stitchery, I want to take it to work and have it on my desk.

 And some gorgeous Rose fabrics, oh Sunny you know me so well, I love these. Thankyou so much my friend, these gifts will be treasures always.

 I have some other exciting news I would like to share with you, my latest design called "Seed Basket" is published in the latest Patchwork and Stitching magazine, this is my 18th design now I have had published and I am loving every minute I spend in my sewing room. Today I am writing up a new pattern for Homespun magazine so please stay tuned for more on that one.

 I was lucky enough to have my design on the front cover. Such a proud moment when I first set eyes on the magazine.

I hope you have all had a lovely Easter and you found some sewing time.

Take care. xx

Friday Night with friends

 I had a very productive Friday night with friends, it all started very early Friday morning, I love having days off especially when I can stay home and sew. I had big plans all week as to what I was going to work on, I was sorting through some things when I found a pattern that I had bought ages ago. Well I couldn't stop thinking about this pattern and how I wanted to make it.

 So I thought I'll just sort through some fabrics to see what I can use for my pattern, well you know how it is, one thing led to another then the next thing I  knew I  was cutting into my very beautiful Sweet Water stash.  Then of course I  thought I'll just make the centre block then I can get back to my regular sewing. Well of course that never happened until much later in the day.

  By about 4pm I had the centre of the quilt made. Here is a peek. Its looking beautiful and I  can't wait to show you what I achieved today.

 Last night I did sit for a couple of hours and hand stitch some dresden plate blocks to the back ground fabrics, today I started putting it together and I love it alot.

 Almost there, just 2 more dresden blocks to make.

 My on line sewing  group did a tilda swap and this is what I received from lovely De,  Look at the cutest little bunny you ever did see, She is so sweet. And perfect for easter.

 De also made me a pretty tilda needle case, it will come in very handy.
Thankyou De, my gifts are beautiful and I will treasure them always.

Thankyou to Cheryll for hosting last nights sewing , if you would like to see what other ladies got up to click here.
Happy Easter. I hope you are having a lovely break and getting some sewing done.